The much fancied shearling ram Caereinion Gladiator from Cefin Pryce and family, Welshpool, led the shearling ram and overall trade at the English National Texel Sale, Worcester, when making 24,000gns.

On a day that recorded an 89% clearance for the shearlings, Gladiator had been much talked about before entering the ring and lived up to both his name and speculation when topping the trade.

This son of the £10,000 Loosebeare Chief is out of a dam by Blaencar Bandit and sold with a top 10% index. Buying him were the Ellis family, Cressage and Scholars.

Welsh buyers were also prominent among the high bidders as second top at 11,000gns was knocked down to Llion Jones for the Pant flock, Tywyn. Peacehay Greatest Showman, sired by Clarks Wizard and out of a dam by the homebred Peacehay Untouchable, was sold by the Chave family, Somerset.

The same vendors then took 5,000gns for Peacehay Gangnam Style, the champion from the pre-sale show. This one is by Usk Vale Fandabidozi and out of a Clarks Wizard daughter and headed to Aberystwyth with the Williams family for their Caron flock.

Close behind that came a 4,800gns call for Greenarch Good God from Eve Hodge, Kelso. Sired by Fimber Elysium and out of a dam by Mershott Danny Boy, he carries a top 1% index and was taken by the Jones family, Pentraeth, Ynys Môn.

Selling for 4,500gns was Duhonw Grand Slam from Michael James and family, Builth Wells. He’s by Wilodge Ex Factor and out of a dam by Garngour Awesome and found a new home with R and B James, Maesgwyn and the Reed family, Scolton, both Pembrokeshire.

John Elliot then took 4,400gns for Mershott Geezer a Walston Clansman son out of a dam by Midlock Youre The One. He carries a top 25% texelplus index and went away with E H Hughes and Son, Llandindrod Wells.

Not far behind at 4,200gns was Whitehart Gigantic from Nicky Hartwright, Bringsty. This Brijon Deal Breaker son is out of a dam by Empire Churchill and sold to Messrs Howells for then Montana flock, Bridgend.

John Elliot was back in action, taking 3,500gns for Roxburgh Guess Who, a Fimber Elysium son out of a dam by Haymount Arnott. Sold with a top 1% texelplus index he was bought by T A Jones, Carmarthen.

And two then made 3,400gns, with the first being Clun Gold Star from the Williams family, Craven Arms. Sired by Rhaeadr Fundraiser, he’s out of a dam by Craig Douglas Ya Belter and went away with Messrs Davies Bros for the Trefere flock, Cardigan.

The other to make this money was Roxburgh Great Scot from John Elliot. This Walston Clansman son is out of a dam by Greenarch Bodacious and was the choice of Ryan Thomas, Haverfordwest, with a top 25% index.

A pair followed at 3,200gns, the first of which was Peacehay Game Changer from the Chaves. By the homebred Peacehay Belters Bruv, he’s out of a Peacehay Untouchable dam and sold to T Davies and Co, Beulah.

The second at this level was Claybury Gotcha from James Draper, Shrewsbury. A son of Claybury Crusader, he’s out of a Garngour Alabama-sired dam and sold with a top 10% index when bought by M and A James for their Ripperston flock, Milford Haven.

And at 3,000gns was Martin Furness’ Westgate Go Getter a Maineview Four Square son out of a dam by Whitehart Contemporary. He went to T B Dalton, Ashbourne.

Averages; 81 shearling rams £2,463.74 (McCartneys).